Desmond Laurence Gannon gave boy 'anatomy lesson'

AAP, Australia/May 21, 2009

By Daniel Fogarty

A pedophile Catholic priest who claimed he was giving an altar boy an
anatomy lesson when he sexually molested him has pleaded guilty to
five indecent assault charges.

Desmond Laurence Gannon, 79, was a Catholic priest at Kilmore, north
of Melbourne, when he abused the boy on three separate occasions in
1968 and 1969.

The incidents occurred in the middle of 18 years of abuse by Gannon,
who has previously been convicted of molesting young boys at various
Victorian parishes between 1958 and 1976.

The court heard that despite these convictions, the Catholic church
continues to support Gannon by helping to pay his rent.

Prosecutor Ray Gibson told the Victorian County Court today that the
boy was a student at Kilmore's St Patrick's Primary School in 1968
when he was asked by his class teacher to go with Gannon to "pick up
some typewriters".

Gannon drove him to a bush track were he removed the boy's pants and
underpants and said "this is your penis". He also kissed and fondled
the boy, who was aged 11.

Gannon later fondled the boy as he was putting on his robes prior to
assisting him celebrate Mass in 1968, the prosecutor said.

And he fondled and kissed the boy in the pump room of the local
swimming pool in 1969, the court heard.

Asked by police why he took the boy to the secluded bush location and
touched his penis, Gannon replied he was explaining the "differences
in anatomy".

"I thought it was less formal rather than inviting him into the
presbytery and that's all," he told police.

Mr Gibson said the offences were planned and deliberate and had
long-term psychological effect on his victim.

He said a jail sentence between nine months and three-and-a-half years
would be appropriate.

In a statement to the court, the victim, who is now in his 50s, said
he had gone from being a happy boy who wanted to be a policeman, to a
delinquent who spent time in jail.

"Father Gannon has succeed in destroying all my hopes and dreams," he said.

"At last I can finally speak out. Not like the dark old days, people
are listening now."

Gannon's lawyer Brian Bourke said the former priest had already served
one year in jail in 1995 and was now an old man who should not spend
any further time behind bars.

He said there was no evidence that Gannon had offended since 1976.

Mr Bourke said the Catholic church makes "provision" for payment of
Gannon's rent on the unit he lives in.

Judge Frank Gucciardo will sentence Gannon, of Box Hill, on June 3.

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